FightWorld | Documentary Series
Fightworld (2018) documentary season 01 official synopsis and trailer:
Actor and fight enthusiast Frank Grillo travels the world, immersing himself in different fight cultures to understand their traditions and motivations.
Starring: Frank Grillo
Genres: Series, Documentary Programmes, American Programmes, Documentaries, Social & Cultural Documentaries
Director: Padraic McKinley
https://youtu.be/faMfaNDWHe8
Source: Netflix https://www.netflix.com/in/title/80187722
There had been situations where I had to fight not a professional fight but the street fights to defend our legacy. I didn't win in the most fights. I was mostly defeated, but the opponent had to fight hard so as to defeat me. I'm retired though. Therefore, if the fighter spirit is still alive or passive in you, this documentary becomes an essential watch. Released on October 12 in Netflix.
Episode 1: Mexico
I thought Mexico was synonymous with drugs, violence, brutality and beautiful women, I didn't know that the Mexico is home to some of the greatest fighters the history of boxing has ever produced.
In Tapito, a neighborhood inside the Mexico City, people especially the vulnerable young male and female kids are left with two options: 1) Drug, sex, violence, prison and eventually death
2) Transition from street fights to amateur boxing to professional boxing.
Some end up becoming trainers too. Arguably, the best trainers, fighters and world champions are from Mexico. Mexicans attribute it to their legacy, they pride themselves as warrior race. Moreover, most fight neither for fame nor money but for food to feed their families. Therefore, when they are in the ring or when they box, nothing matters except winning. Winning means survival. Survival means food.
It is claimed that boxing as a sport has helped people to move away from the so-called "Bad", drugs, sex, prison and death. It alters not only their body but mind and spirit. Most have recovered from severe addiction even from death beds and have become successful boxers and trainers.
Not all recover. It is the environment which pulls back people to what they were. Even after becoming a victorious boxing professional most succumb to the other side and eventually end up in the prison or dead in the streets.
But, the Mexicans are strong. No matter what happens they always say " Keep moving forward."
I wish I could go to Mexico to get trained and the boxer in me must be awakened.
Episode 2: Thailand
Muay Thai is considered to be not only the national sport but the street fight of Thailand. Until the mid 90s, with all due respect I thought Thailand was synonymous with women, beach, sex and prostitution. But, when I watched Jean Claude Van Damme's "BloodSport", which was released in Madurai Hajira theatre in the late 80s, that's when I learnt that there was a combat martial art called " Muay Thai".
Like every other fighting world, the fighters of the Muay Thai are born out of poverty and fight for money to feed their families. Arguably, many martial arts or combat sports have stemmed from Muay Thai. I was already determined to go to Thailand to learn Muay Thai after watching "A Prayer Before Dawn" in 2018, now this series "FightWorld" has only reinforced this thought.
Episode 3: Myanmar
Myanmar aka Burma was a dictatorship until a few years ago. Upon becoming a democracy, it's national sport, which is considered to be a traditional and culture sport, Lethwei become popular to the outside world.
The Lethwei is an art of nine limbs, whereas Muay Thai is an art of eigh limbs. The ninth limb is the head butt, which is typically used for taking the opponents down or a knock out. Like Muay Thai, the aspirants of Lethwei come from poor backgrounds and villages. An extreme poverty is what drives them to fight.
Parallels can be drawn between the Lethwei fighters. On one side, most are poor; maintain a low profile despite winning championships; hardworking physically and mentally strong rural people, whose masters prefer such kind because Lethwei is not only about fighting but being physically and emotionally intelligent so that they can grow in other domains apart from fighting as well. The other side is affluent and can afford expensive training methods and regimen. Fame is their ultimate objective.
The narrator feels ashamed as most of the Lethwei fighters don't even have enough food after a hard day of training. One boxing pouch is shared between the fighters and most use a pole for kicking and punching. It is a bare hand fight. But the narrator is ashamed that he trains in three different gyms, wears 600 USD gloves and can take protein bars whenever and wherever he wants.
Poverty is the motivation.
Episode 4: Senegal
This is a sort of preparation of warriors for war, which gradually became a national sport. Because of an accident at a football stadium, this episode couldn't cover it's fightworld in detail.
Episode 5: Krav Maga
According to this docu series, Israel shares its border with 32 nations.We would all know the border tensions between nations sharing their borders with just few countries, then imagine the situation in Israel. It's really dangerous.
Unlike, most of the nations, the instructions given to the civilians in the event of a terrorist attack are: not to hide; run away; seek protection but attack the assialant and kill them. Because, Isrealies can't afford to lose the lives of its people. Every male member of 18 years of age must join the army and serve for a certain period of time. Considering the limited geographical size of Israel, of course, they need all of their not only men but women to be part of the military.
Karv Maga was born not to defend but quikly kill the enemy. Unlike other fightworlds, Karv maga is not a combat sport, it is a real life very effective street fight method derived from many martial arts.
Among all the fightworlds and their methods from Mexico, Thailand, Myanmar, and Senegal, Israel's is the most lethal because of Krav Maga, which is meant to kill. I wish I could go to Israel and learn Krav Maga.
Authored by Balaji Thangapandian aka #BT - a spacefarer, who is also curious about film-making, connectivity technologies and military history.
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